Eminae CEO Forum: Navigating Today’s M&A Landscape

Wednesday, February 19

1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Pyramid Club |1735 Market St 52nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103

The Eminae CEO Forum brings together business owners, CEOs, investors, lenders, and deal professionals for a focused, high-level conversation on the realities of today’s M&A market. This forum is designed for leaders who want practical insight into how deals are financed, how value is determined, how exits intersect with personal and business planning, and what buyers are actually looking for right now.

This is not a theory. These are honest conversations led by professionals actively involved in transactions.

• Business owners considering a sale, transition, or recapitalization
• CEOs planning for growth, acquisition, or exit in the next 1–5 years
• Investors, lenders, and private equity professionals
• Advisors supporting M&A, valuation, tax, and estate planning.

• How buyers think about value, risk, and timing in today’s market
• What lenders look for before they approve acquisition or growth financing
• How deal structure and preparation impact price and closing outcomes
• When tax and estate planning should begin in the exit process
• Practical steps owners can take now to be deal-ready
• Current market insights from professionals actively closing deals

Check-in, welcome refreshments, and open networking with CEOs, investors, lenders, and advisors.

Welcome and overview of the forum agenda.

In today’s tighter credit environment, understanding how deals are financed is critical. This panel brings together lenders, valuation experts, and a CEO with real acquisition experience to explain how financing decisions impact deal structure, valuation, and closing success.

Topics include:

• How lenders evaluate acquisitions and refinancing opportunities
• SBA lending vs conventional bank financing and when each makes sense
• How valuations influence loan approval and deal structure
• What must buyers and sellers prepare before approaching lenders?
• Standard financing red flags that delay or derail deals
• How current credit markets affect deal timing and execution

Panelists:

• Moderator: Joseph Guarino, Principal, President & CEO, LINK Business Pennsylvania East
• Mary Soldano, SBA Lender & Business Development Officer, Truliant Bank
• Eric Murchison, Vice President & Commercial Loan Officer, Mid Penn Bank
• Brian McIntyre, Partner & Market Leader, Corporate Valuation and SBA Loan Valuations, Withum
• Dan Armenia, CEO, High Tech Heating and Cooling
  

Selling or transitioning a business is not only a financial transaction but also a personal and family decision. This panel explores how M&A, tax planning, and estate strategy intersect, and why early planning can dramatically impact after-tax proceeds and long-term wealth.

Topics include:

• Why tax and estate planning should begin years before a sale
• How does the deal structure impact after-tax outcomes?
• Coordinating CPAs, attorneys, bankers, and advisors during a transition
• Common mistakes owners make when planning too late
• Preparing for wealth management, legacy, and life after a sale

Panelists:

• Moderator: Kalimah Z. White, JD, Senior Vice President & Senior Business Consulting Director, Key Private Bank
• Meghan Jodz, Principal, Grant Thornton Advisors
• Erin Hoffman, CExP, Financial Advisor, Certified Financial Services (CFS)
• Courtney Dolaway, Shareholder, Flaster Greenberg PC

This closing session brings together investment bankers, business brokers, and private equity professionals for an honest, unfiltered discussion on what is happening in the deal market today.

Topics include:

• What buyers are paying for today and what they are avoiding
• How timing and preparation impact valuation
• Why do some deals move quickly while others stall
• Market realities, business owners often hear too late.
• What owners should do now if they plan to sell in the next 1–3 years?

Panelists:

• Moderator: Kyle Griffith, Managing Partner, The NYBB Group, Founder, Eminae Network
• Christine Jones, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Blue Highway Growth Capital
• Raaz Ali, Founder, The Raivax Group
• Ryan Hummel, Principal and Advisor, True North Consulting, LLC

You will discover proven strategies, hear directly from active dealmakers, and gain practical insight into today’s M&A market.

This forum is designed to help business owners and CEOs make more informed decisions on growth, acquisitions, and exits while building meaningful relationships with experienced investors, lenders, and advisors.

Whether you are preparing for a future transaction or actively evaluating opportunities, you will leave with clearer direction, stronger connections, and a better understanding of how deals are getting done right now.

Eminae is a curated community of CEOs, business owners, investors, and trusted advisors focused on education, collaboration, and real-world dealmaking. Through forums, roundtables, and private events, Eminae creates spaces where meaningful conversations lead to better decisions and stronger outcomes.

About the Eminae CEO Forum

The Eminae CEO Forum is an exclusive educational event designed for CEOs, business owners, and M&A professionals navigating critical transitions. Whether focused on growth, mergers, or exit strategies, this private forum connects you with an elite group of advisors and consultants who provide actionable insights and expert guidance tailored to your unique challenges.

At the core of the Eminae Network’s mission is our dedication to empowering leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of deal-making. Through dynamic panel discussions and thought-provoking presentations, attendees will gain strategic insights to drive success and maximize opportunities in today’s competitive M&A landscape.
Why Attend?

✔ Learn from Active Dealmakers
Hear practical, real-world insight from M&A advisors, lenders, private equity professionals, and business leaders who are actively working on transactions today.

✔ Build Meaningful Connections
Connect with business owners, investors, and deal professionals involved in the lower middle market. These conversations often lead to partnerships, opportunities, and long-term relationships.

✔ Gain Actionable M&A Insight
Understand what drives business value, how buyers and lenders assess risk, and what steps you can take now to prepare for a successful transaction, whether that is growth, acquisition, or exit.

We look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia for an insightful and impactful event! It will be a transformative afternoon of learning, networking, and strategic insights!

For questions, contact us at [email protected] or visit

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Eminae Network is an exclusive, membership-based organization that brings CEOs, investors, and elite trusted advisors together. We focus on advising and educating companies on maximizing the value of their exit or acquisition strategies.

Eminae Network is dedicated to providing long-term strategies for organic or acquisition-based growth, helping forward-thinking businesses build value for a successful exit.

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Host or Publisher Kyle Griffith, CBI - The M&A Alliance